Adoption has been on the Lowman Family’s heart for a long time….they have 11 treasures–2 home grown, 7 from NH foster care and 2 from Asia. God has knit their hearts together to make one big family where love grows! They have been blessed to be a part of this community here at Reeces Rainbow! Last year, while praying for the aging out children, they felt called to two boys being listed on the Reeces Rainbow website. What an amazing journey it has been to have these two boys join their family, experience many firsts together and to rejoice in the hope of family. When coming home from Asia with those 2 treasures, they knew that they would go back because God has given them a heart for the older aging out children. So, with all of that, they are excited to announce the addition of Sara, age 13. The newest treasure that is preparing to join the Lowman family. Their daughter ages out in March and they are racing to get there before that happens. Please consider walking beside them on their journey. They would appreciate your prayers and support.

http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/Sara-Lowman.jpg707678Michellehttp://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.pngMichelle2016-12-08 12:33:242016-12-09 10:18:19SARA for the Lowman Family -- NH

The Johnston family is excited to be adopting for the second time. Chris and Julianna have been married for almost 10 years. Chris works for an international relief organization, and Julianna works at home, educating and caring for their 5 children.

One day, the couple read Stephen’s story through Wide-Awake’s post, and after learning more about him, they knew they would go as far as God would take them in bringing Stephen into their family. God graciously introduced them to the blessing of special needs when their son Isaac was born in 2010, and they have since welcomed their daughter Providence with Down syndrome into the family through adoption two years ago.

The Johnstons are uniquely blessed with a community of friends and family who support, celebrate, and value life. They are grateful for others they continue to meet through organizations like Reece’s Rainbow.

12/5/16 —HOMESTUDY in PROCESS

$77.60
has been donated towards the cost of our adoption!

Make the most of your gift, consider sending a check! Online donations to children with committed families incur a 3% PayPal transaction fee.

http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/Stephan.jpg748573Michellehttp://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.pngMichelle2016-12-05 21:27:312016-12-05 21:27:31STEPHAN for the Johnston family -- NC

Chris and Amy have been married for twelve years, and have hearts for growing their family through adoption. They have five young children, aged 1-9 years old, four of whom are adopted from Ethiopia, USA and China. They believe that family is more than blood, and built through love. Though some may say their hands are full, they firmly believe their hearts have more love to share.

With joyful hearts they ask for your prayerful support as their family embarks on a new chapter of life’s journey: bringing home a ten year old daughter from Asia. They are ever thankful for all who advocated for “Calina” over the past eight years until God prepared their hearts to bring her home.

The Weatons have chosen to name her Teresa, after Saint Teresa of Calcutta, a woman who “got it” with being Christ to those around her, and inspired us to change the world with little acts of big love. St Teresa’s Feast Day is September 5th, the day Chris and Amy got engaged!

The Weatons’ yearn to have her home, but if adoption has taught them anything time and time again, it’s to trust in His timing! Until then, their five children take turns with Teresa’s picture next to them in an empty chair at the dinner table each night, and pray that she can feel their love from across the ocean.

12/5/16 —HOMESTUDY in PROCESS

$97.00
has been donated towards the cost of our adoption!

Make the most of your gift, consider sending a check! Online donations to children with committed families incur a 3% PayPal transaction fee.

http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.png00Michellehttp://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.pngMichelle2016-12-05 11:31:382016-12-05 11:31:38CALINA for the Weaton family -- AZ

The Schaus family is excited to be adopting for the first time. Chris and Amanda have been married for 15 years and have two beautiful biological children – Esme (10) and Gavyn (7). They are both teachers – Chris is a high school English teacher and Amanda is a Chairperson for Special Education. They enjoy spending time with family and friends, taking walks in the neighborhood, and snuggling up with a good book together. Life is full of extra curricular activities, church functions, and sports, but their hearts are not full yet.

For the last year Amanda and Chris have been discussing adoption and Andre’s picture continued to resurface. But on October 23, 2016, a Facebook post by another Reece’s Rainbow adoptive parent, Natalie Tena, who was raising funds for Andre’s Christmas Miracle Maker sealed the deal and they haven’t turned back since.

The Schaus family is excited to welcome Andre into their home and their family and friends could not be more supportive. They are currently looking for prayers and support to make this adoption financially, emotionally, and spiritually successful. Andre is already a member of their family in heart and mind. Please consider partnering with them to bring him to his forever home.

11/30/16 —HOMESTUDY in PROCESS

$9.70
has been donated towards the cost of our adoption!

Make the most of your gift, consider sending a check! Online donations to children with committed families incur a 3% PayPal transaction fee.

The Bloom family is heading back to adopt again, this time for one last extra special girl. This is an adoption built on miracles. Our family met her during a previous adoption. She was a lonely girl confined to a crib. Everyone thought she couldn’t be adopted. Everyone thought she had already aged out. Her health has been deteriorating quickly. Our family began making inquiries as to how we could care for her within her own country. We began talking about plans to move our family to her. Everyone thought she was ineligible for adoption. But we were wrong! It is not too late; she CAN be adopted. Her paperwork is being prepared now. This is just the beginning. Many more miracles are needed to get this special girl home where she can receive love and immediate medical care.

We have been racing through paperwork at record speeds. This is going to be a “hurry up and wait” process, where we rush as much as possible, then sit tight until her paperwork is finally completed. We are praying things move just as quickly on her end. She has waited in a crib for nearly 16 years, without hope. She has hope now. We are coming.

11/23/16—DOSSIER in PROCESS

$399.64
has been donated towards the cost of our adoption!

Make the most of your gift, consider sending a check! Online donations to children with committed families incur a 3% PayPal transaction fee.

We are the Millward family. Carolyn and Eddie have been married for 26 years and have two incredible boys; Christian 18 and Brian 13. We cannot forget the other members of the family; their cat and dog Goober and Maggie.

Adoption has been a consideration for many years, but a recent blog rekindled the fire and pointed them in the direction of Reece’s Rainbow. Soon after, a Facebook post focusing on the plight of Emmaline really struck a chord with the family. Emmaline is an 11-year-old with cerebral palsy, and the thought of her spending the rest of her life institutionalized was not something they could accept. A good amount of thought and even more prayer led them to the decision to move forward with the adoption.

Please pray for Emmaline that she will soon be home with her family, receiving the love and medical treatment she deserves.

“Grace is love that cares and stoops and rescues” -John Stott

11/21/16 —HOMESTUDY in PROCESS

$0.00
has been donated towards the cost of our adoption!

Make the most of your gift, consider sending a check! Online donations to children with committed families incur a 3% PayPal transaction fee.

http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.png00Michellehttp://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.pngMichelle2016-11-21 12:53:562016-11-21 12:53:56EMMALINE for the Millward family -- NJ

Jim and Amy McBride live in rural Georgia with their two daughters and two sons who range in age from 6-16. Jim is a beloved middle/high school band director in a very small community. Amy stays home to home school two of the children and tend to their family farm.

Adoption has been an important part of their lives for many years. They have one son and one daughter who joined their family by adoption. Amy also works to advocate for orphans and has a special place in her heart for children with cleft lip/palate. That’s how the McBride family learned of Ellis and Tanner.

Amy spent a year advocating for these two boys to find a family. This summer the boys became available for hosting and the McBrides were given the opportunity to have both boys in their home for four weeks. It was a “real life” four weeks with hard moments and fun moments. The hardest moment came when the boys had to return to the orphanage. Everyone was heartbroken. It was at that time that the McBride family knew these two boys should be their sons/brothers.

We have been able to watch God open doors and provide during each step of this process. We are continuing to trust Him as we work to bring our sons home. We know it won’t be easy bringing in two 12 year old boys, but we know that He has prepared this path for us and He will walk with us through this. Would you like to join us on this journey? Would you like to help us as we open our homes and hearts to these precious boys? Thank you for any support and prayers.

11/16/16—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS

$0.00
has been donated towards the cost of our adoption!

Make the most of your gift, consider sending a check! Online donations to children with committed families incur a 3% PayPal transaction fee.

http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.png00Michellehttp://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.pngMichelle2016-11-16 14:04:002016-11-16 14:04:00ELLIS and TANNER for the McBride family -- GA

After raising three bio boys, Chuck, Dan and Nick, Christine and Chuck Horn had much more love to give. China was where their hearts were when they learned of orphan hosting in the US. The Lord opened doors and they excitedly moved forward. In June of 2016 they hosted an amazing 8 year old boy. Joel was one of 5 incredibly brave children who came to the US in hopes of finding families and homes of their own. There were four boys and one feisty girl who had no problem keeping up with the craziness of boys! The feisty little girl was Jenifer.

Christine had an immediate, unexplainable, connection with Jenifer from the moment she watched her read the “Welcome” sign at the airport at 1:30am and excitedly use sign language to one of the boys. It was from that very minute the Lord put her in Christine’s heart. She knew Jenifer was meant to be a part of their family.

By the time they had to return to China, all of the hosted children found families, including Jenifer. And their host child, Joel, had quickly became their son. It was a blessing to know all of these special children would have families and homes of their own.

But there was still something tugging at the Horns, they called their agency, several times, and asked, “How is Jenifer’s family?” The reply was, “Great, they are perfect!” Wonderful, they were happy to know Jenifer would have the perfect family to come home to. At twelve years old, this sweet little girl had waited far too long for a family and home of her own.

Almost two and a half months after the children boarded the plane back to China, and Joel’s adoption process well under way, Christine got the call, at 3:50 on a Monday afternoon. Jenifer’s family could no longer adopt her. Her heart sank knowing this little girl lost another home, yet somehow she had known this call would be coming. Jenifer was meant to be their daughter. Christine cried. They prayed. It was clear that the Lord had already been working. Nothing had ever been so clear: Jenifer was already a part of their family.

The Horns are grateful for the blessing of donations and prayers that are much needed to get both of their children home.

11/14/16—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS

$0.00
has been donated towards the cost of our adoption!

Make the most of your gift, consider sending a check! Online donations to children with committed families incur a 3% PayPal transaction fee.

http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/RRPic.jpg800600Michellehttp://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.pngMichelle2016-11-14 10:11:422016-11-14 10:11:42JENIFER and JOEL for the Horn family -- PA

Shawn and Jenni Zupfer have been married for 10 years and have an incredible 4 year old biological son. While they felt their family of three was complete, they knew they had more love to share and opened their hearts to international adoption. They completed their home study and were soon matched with a toddler.

When visiting their prospective child in country this past July, Jenni met a young boy named John who was at the same interim care center as their toddler. She knew instantly there was something remarkably special about this young boy after meeting him and hearing his story.

At a young age, John fell from a mango tree an injured a disc in his back, but was not able to have the medical care he needed. She learned he was a true orphan, having lost both his parents to the recent tragic Ebola outbreaks, which forced him to live on the streets in one of the country’s worst slums, and fend for himself for survival. Despite all that was working against him, he managed to keep himself in school; he is very bright. He is one of the most loving, kind, and tenderhearted young boys you will ever meet. He maintains a sweet disposition, a strong inner drive to achieve his dreams, and a desire to once again have a family to call his own. Shawn and Jenni were grateful to learn he was matched with a family so that he would have the opportunity to have a loving family, continue his education, and pursue his goals.

Recently, however, due to unforeseen circumstances and no fault of his own, the family pursuing his adoption was unable to proceed. John was left with few options as he will age out of adoption eligibility in early January 2017 and once again be on his own, and alone.

Upon learning John was in need of a family, without hesitation, Shawn and Jenni stepped forward to pursue his adoption. They quickly completed a whirlwind of paperwork and updated their home study to include a teenager. Now it is a race against time for everything to come together, including raising the remaining funds, for John to join their family.

11/29/16—USCIS APPROVED

$814.10
has been donated towards the cost of our adoption!

Make the most of your gift, consider sending a check! Online donations to children with committed families incur a 3% PayPal transaction fee.

http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.png00Michellehttp://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.pngMichelle2016-11-11 09:39:482016-11-29 19:01:50JOHN for the Zupfer family -- WA

Martha and Mike live on a family farm in North Carolina. They have 2 children, one of whom they found on Reece’s Rainbow way back in 2009. Their daughter was completely deaf when adopted and now hears with the aid of Cochlear Implants. They knew their adoption story was not over but had not heard clearly the call of the Lord again until 2 years ago. They hosted a boy who lived in the same country from which they adopted their daughter. The hosting did not go well, and they were unsure about how to proceed. They prayed for this child when he went back to the orphanage and helped a wonderful local family with his needs that were not being met in the orphanage. During this past winter, the Evans family visited his orphanage to provide supplies and gifts.

Then they did something they never thought they would do…. they hosted the same boy, now a teenager, again. This time, the once scared, angry boy had seen and felt unconditional love. He knew people prayed for him and believed in him. He finally knew someone cared about him. His hosting experience went MUCH better!

When he left to return to his country, the Evans family prayed about whether they were supposed to move forward to adopt him. A few months later, the answer was a YES from the Lord. This young man was to be added to the Evans family!

Mike and Martha understand the challenges to be faced by adding an older child to the family and will do all they can to equip this boy to become a man of God. He knows he is already loved by God, and the Evanses long to show him the love of a family!

http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/mark1.jpeg320192Michellehttp://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.pngMichelle2016-11-10 11:14:372016-12-06 09:23:56MARK for the Evans family -- NC

The Speck family — Adam, Tiffany, Elijah, Avelyn, Malachai, Brynley, and Truenne — are excited to be adding to their family again, this time through adoption. While Adam and Tiffany had briefly discussed adoption when they were first married 16 years ago, the arrival of 5 biological children in a few short years and the busy life that results from a home blessed with many children, caused the idea of adopting to fall out of sight. God clearly had other plans however, and brought the idea of adopting suddenly back into the forefront of their minds this past spring, when a friend unexpectedly introduced them to Reece’s Rainbow. One beautiful child immediately caught Tiffany’s eye, and she and Adam began to pray and discuss the idea of adopting this child with special needs.

Over the following several weeks, the more they prayed and discussed adopting, the more God confirmed that this plan was from Him– through an unexpected sermon series (about adoption and foster care) at their church, random interactions with strangers who spontaneously shared adoption or foster stories of their own on an almost daily basis, and devotional topics discussing our own adoption into God’s family through salvation. After several months of praying to confirm that this idea of adoption was truly from the Lord and for this time, the Specks contacted Reece’s Rainbow to make a commitment to the little girl who had initially grabbed at their hearts, only to find another family had recently committed to her adoption. For several weeks after this, Adam and Tiffany wrestled through what felt like a loss to them, and realized fully that God was truly laying adoption on their hearts for their family.

It is with great excitement that they are able to announce that they will be welcoming Adelaide into their family! They are also currently trying to raise additional funds to be able to commit to a second daughter, and appreciate your prayers and any financial support to help them bring home Adelaide as soon as possible, and to be able to fully commit to this additional beautiful daughter.

11/7/16—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS

$72.75
has been donated towards the cost of our adoption!

Make the most of your gift, consider sending a check! Online donations to children with committed families incur a 3% PayPal transaction fee.

http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/Adelaide-2.jpg800442Michellehttp://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.pngMichelle2016-11-07 15:28:392016-11-07 15:39:55ADELAIDE for the Speck family -- KS

Krista has worked in private (domestic and international) adoptions as well as Social Service adoptions for her entire 15 year career. Krista is an only parent to an 8 year old son who has always wanted a little brother. They have often discussed expanding their family through adoption, however were looking at options through the foster care system; but the doors were always closing. On June 30, 2016 Krista was looking through Reece’s Rainbow photo listing and saw her son! She was shocked and surprised and after wrestling with it for a few days decided to bury it deep and write it off as a “crazy thought.” However, she could not stop thinking about those big brown eyes and dreamed about bringing him home. After almost three months she was completely broken and realized that she was not just imagining a fairy tale. She was hearing the Lord speak to her that this was her son! She needed to put her worries away and fully rely on God.

All the worries and anxieties: How would she pay for this as on a single income? What will her family think? Will her coworkers be angry that she is not adopting from the system she works for? How will she meet the needs of this special little boy who deserves so much? After thinking and obsessing about these questions over and over for days, into the wee hours of the morning, she finally realized that NONE of that is up to her! There was absolutely nothing she could do to control those things, but needed to be obedient. The only way that any of this would happen was in her absolute surrender and faith that God would provide. She keeps going back to II Corinthians 12:9: in my weakness His power is made perfect; His grace is sufficient. Krista is working on putting her worries away and fully relying on God to make this precious little boy her son!

11/7/16—HOMESTUDY in PROCESSFollow the family’s journey on their blog:

$106.70
has been donated towards the cost of our adoption!

Make the most of your gift, consider sending a check! Online donations to children with committed families incur a 3% PayPal transaction fee.

The Duty family, Scott, Jennie, Nathan, Jack, Joelle and Elliot, are excited to be adopting for the 1st time! With 3 biological brothers at home, 12, 11 and 7, sister Joelle is ecstatic to finally have a sister! Scott and Jennie have desired to adopt since they started dating. After marrying, having 4 biologic children plus multiple losses, the desire was still there but not in the forefront. Then in 2016, after helping friends fundraise to adopt their son from Asia, they discovered Orphan Hosting programs, and started looking at photo listings. They were inexplicably drawn to Nora, but told she already had a family hosting her. They decided to wait until 2017, but the Lord had other plans! 3 weeks before Nora’s group was to come to the US, her family had to back out. They were asked if THEY would host her. She now had a $1900 grant from the family who had to back out. They had $1300 set aside to replace carpeting in our home; this was the EXACT difference needed to bring Nora to the US! Clearly they were supposed to host Nora, so they said yes. From Day 1, she fit right into their family. Very clear she is a “Duty”, full of joy and spunk!

Scott has enjoyed stable employment for 15 years at the same employer. Jennie has enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom for the past 10 years. They were told their oldest son, Nathan, had Down Syndrome when they were pregnant with him. He did not, but through that experience the Lord taught them that they would love a special needs child no less! Jennie works with special needs adults at their local YMCA, and subs as an instructional aide with special needs children in their children’s school district. The Lord has absolutely prepared this family for adopting and raising this special little girl. Nora was abandoned at 1 year of age, and has been raised in an orphanage since. Every child deserves a family. The Duty’s love Nora and desire to raise her as their daughter!

http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_1673.jpg800653Michellehttp://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.pngMichelle2016-11-04 14:56:312016-11-26 20:52:22NORA for the Duty family -- WI

Bradley met Wendy during a singles Bible study class at a church he was visiting with a friend… the same church she had attended since high school. He invited her to a church social, and the rest, as they say, is history. They were married in the very same chapel in which they first met.

Today, Bradley and Wendy have been married for 17 years, and have two beautiful children. Their son is 14, and daughter, 10. Adoption has been a subject of discussion in the family for years, but with Bradley’s career being somewhat stalled, was never considered a real possibility. Until now. The family is finally “at home” in Houston, TX, where Bradley works for the University of TX Health Science Center, while Wendy is a stay-at-home mom.

In the summer of 2016, their daughter randomly asked, “So, when am I gonna get a sister?” A light went off in their hearts and minds, and when a few days later, Wendy came across the link to Reece’s Rainbow in a blog shared by a Facebook friend, things got real. She first found Gideon, who, based on his photos, shared many of the same interests as her own son. He even resembled her side of the family. She was instantly moved by his wish for a mom and dad. Not long after, she came across Alissa’s profile. Again, she felt the same tug on her heart, and knew Alissa belonged in their family as well. Within minutes, she had emailed Bradley the link to their RR profiles. His response? “I love them both!”

The Bridges are working as fast as they can to bring both Gideon and Alissa home. Gideon is at risk of aging out within the next year, so time is of the essence. The family is so grateful for any help in bringing both children home, be it in the form of donations, prayers, or just in the reassurance found in the success stories of those who have gone before them.

11/4/16—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS

$824.50
has been donated towards the cost of our adoption!

Make the most of your gift, consider sending a check! Online donations to children with committed families incur a 3% PayPal transaction fee.

http://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.png00Michellehttp://reecesrainbow.org/wp-content/uploads/10logo4x4-3.pngMichelle2016-11-04 10:42:452016-11-04 10:42:45GIDEON and ALISSA for the Bridges family -- TX